Sharon McSwiney

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-24T12:04:00.003Z

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you for your custom & interest in my work the past 12 months. Looking forward to next year with some new developments after my exciting India trip in January/Feburary 2009.

Studio will be open on Saturday 3rd January for a few days for a small sale of selected items.

**********Have a fun Festive Season************

Fold Studio New Arrivals

2008-12-23T13:30:00.003Z

I have recently added some more artists to the work I stock at my studio...Murgatroyd & Bean make fabulous funky animals from various fabrics including vintage finds. Based in Herefordforshire. I first saw the work at one of the Art Markets I was doing this year. I fell in love with the quirky creatures!

All the pieces are hand embroidered freehand meaning each piece is unique.

Christmas Decorations

2008-12-23T12:58:00.003Z

I'm really pleased with my decorations at home....This year I've gone for orange, black & grey. Most of the tree decorations are from good old Ikea (bought in the sale in January!). Thought you might like to have a look......

The Felt reindeer looks rather smug... The perspex tree was from Muji a few years ago.

Christmas Opening Hours

2008-12-19T16:29:00.002Z

Just a few days left........................

Just to let you know my opening times over the next couple of days for any last minute purchases!!

******Saturday 20th December******

10am - 5pm

*******Sunday 21st December*******

11am - 4pm

******Monday 22nd December******

10am - 5pm

******Tuesday 23rd December******

10am - 5pm

**********Christmas Eve***********

10am - 2pm

Last Christmas Event

2008-12-10T10:55:00.006Z

This Saturday is my last Craft Fair before Christmas. I shall be showing in Hereford once again. The craft market will be situated in

Hereford High Town on Saturday 13th Dec 9am until 5pm

Look forward to seeing you there for any last minute prezzie purchases!

PS Don't worry my studio will still be open as usual (10am - 5pm)

Blackthorpe Barn

2008-12-03T09:07:00.003Z

Off again this weekend to another event down in Suffolk. This is a lovely show with a great Christmas atmosphere...Trees, mulled wine & mince pies, holly & decorations. The barn itself is amazing worth a visit just to admire the construction.. but of course there is all the fantastic craft work on show too!!

I'm only showing at one of the weekends due to the distance away....

Sat 6th & Sun 7th December

(My Bransford studio will still be open as Tim is staying behind!)

Have a look at the website for more information
http://www.blackthorpebarn.com/

Victorian Fayre Pictures

2008-12-03T08:53:00.003Z

Thought you might like to see some pics from the weekends Worcester Victorian Fayre!

It was very, very cold and long days but we made some sales & lots of new contacts hopefully. I'm glad to be back in my warm studio this week and then off to a barn this weekend (still at least that has a roof!)

Costumes were courtesy of Pershore Operatic Society thank goodness for the layers.....

Christmas Fayre

2008-11-25T10:09:00.005Z

From Thursday this week I shall be taking part in Worcester's famous

Victorian Christmas Fayre

& yes Tim & I will be in costume! (Worth a look surely?!)

I haven't done this event before but usually visit for some chestnuts at least...

Anyway we will be having a stall in the High Street between the Elgar Statue & Pump Street. This was where the summer events took place this year. Hopefully we won't be too cold in all our Victorian get-up!?

Opening times:

Thursday 27th November 12pm - 9.30pm

Friday 28th November 11am - 9.30pm

Saturday 29th November 11am - 9.30pm (My birthday!!)

Sunday 30th November 11am - 4pm (phew!)

Have a look at the website for more information regarding visiting.....

http://www.visitworcester.com/

Please note that during this event my studio at Bransford will still be open (Jackie Harris will be covering for us). Thurs/Fri 10am - 3pm then Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 11am - 4pm. Call 01886 830125 if you want to check anything?

Makers 8 event this Sunday

2008-11-19T10:31:00.002Z

Christmas Celebration @ The Fold. Sunday 23rd November 2008 11–4pm

Come and enjoy a relaxing shopping experience including free parking, Christmas lunch at the EcoCafe, mulled wine and mince pies and exclusive offers throughout.

Sharon’s One Day Offers
Spend £25+ Free Christmas Card. Spend £50+ Free Christmas Tree Deco.
Spend £100+ Free Garden Stick. Spend £200+ Free Mini Metalwork Canvas.

“We all really look forward to seeing you here. Celebrating Christmas with a smile.”

Sharon McSwiney Studio A The Fold Bransford Worcs WR6 5JB 01886 830125 www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk

Bumble bees!

2008-11-11T11:17:00.002Z

Thought you might like to see my of my latest commissions.

Altered Book No 4

2008-11-09T12:18:00.005Z

It was all a bit of a panic to get my sections done for the Altered Book project for Oct/Nov!

However as usual I enjoyed the process & revisited some techniques I've not used for a while such as mono printing.

I was not familiar with the story 'Babes in the Wood' but liked the idea of the robins....
I've included some of my metalwork pieces in photographic form in this book.

The next book is even more challenging!!! Watch this space.... I'm planning to start today as I know time will be short over the next couple of months.

Exhibition at Warwickshire Museum

2008-11-09T11:48:00.002Z

Makers 8 Christmas Event @ The Fold

2008-11-09T11:33:00.005Z

November is an extremely busy month it seems!

We are holding a special Christmas event on Sunday 23rd November at the Fold as part of Makers 8, the group of designer makers within the Fold complex at Bransford.

All of the makers studios will be open will full Christmas displays of ideas to inspire. The cafe will be serving Christmas lunches & we are hoping for some carol singers!

In most of the studios there will also be special offers just for that day. Hope to see you along there. Come and avoid the 'Christmas Crush' in town & support local businesses.

Directions to The Fold can be found on my main website.

South Hill Park Event

2008-11-09T11:19:00.003Z

I shall be once again showing at the annual Christmas Craft Fair at South Hill Park in Bracknell this year. The show takes place over the weekend with over 70 designer makers exhibiting.

Sat 15th November 11am - 6pm

Sun 16th November 10am - 5pm

This show always has a good mix of work & of a high standard. For more information about the location & the exhibitors visit the website:

wwww.southhillpark.org.uk

Christmas Market

2008-11-09T11:00:00.005Z

Having just returned from the Dulwich event late last night I'm already planning the next events that I'll be exhibiting at this month. The next one is local (phew!) at Leigh & Bransford Primary School on Wednesday evening. A number of local makers will be showing, including several of us from the Fold. It should be a good opportunity to support the school & purchase some Christmas prezzies!

Hope to see you there....

Next Event: Dulwich Craft & Design Fair

2008-10-22T13:03:00.005+01:00

I am now in full Christmas mode! Making decorations, greetings cards & working on new small scale pictures which will hopefully make idea gifts!

My next retail show is in Dulwich on Saturday November 8th. This is the first time I have exhibited at these shows and I have heard good reports from other makers.

Malvern Autumn Show

2008-09-24T12:55:00.003+01:00

This weekend the Malvern Autumn Show is taking place once again. I'll be exhibiting with the Worcester Guild of Designer Craftsmen in the Wye Hall. I'll be showing my extensive range of jewellery including the most recent new designs, alongside my metalwork pictures & wall panels, garden sticks and greetings cards.

Although it's a little early I'll also have a selection of my metalwork Christmas Decorations on display.

My studio at The Fold will be open as usual on Saturday 27th Sept 10am - 5pm

Hereford Craft Market

2008-09-15T12:37:00.002+01:00

This Saturday 20th September I shall have a stand at the Hereford Craft Market which takes place in the city centre. I will be exhibiting several of my new pieces including my new favourite donkey brooch design!

1st batch of Christmas robins have hatched!

2008-09-14T10:54:00.002+01:00

My first Robin Christmas decorations are now available. These have been hand-made in copper & brass each one being slightly different. I shall be making a range of Christmas trees to compliment this little range in the next couple of weeks.

The original decorations are still also available - see website gallery section for details.

Fishy Designs

2008-09-10T12:41:00.002+01:00

I have recently been asked to make a few of the mobiles that I used to produce a lot of a few years ago. I supply a gallery in Borkum in Germany called 'Insel-Galerie' with these whimsical pieces. The gallery is situated by the sea so aquatic themes are always popular......

Panel Commission

2008-09-10T12:01:00.003+01:00

I have just finished a commission for a special long metalwork panel.

The piece is a 40th birthday present & my customer requested that we try to make the motifs personal to her husband.

The designs incorporate references to family, work & hobbies. It's interesting to work with other ideas & develop new images. I'm particularly pleased with the olives & the Worcester pear although the Canary Wharf tower turned out quite well too!

Although I generally make these pieces as more abstract patterns I am happy to work with customers ideas if I feel the designs will be suitable.

H art piggies Emin & Gormley

2008-09-06T19:23:00.003+01:00

Worcester News published an article today to promote h.art. Several of the artists involved popped to Blue Ginger Gallery http://www.blue-ginger.com/ the other morning to say hello to the resident pigs Emin & Gormley who welcomed the attention (& the apples!)

The Malvern Gazette also photographed myself & Alex Wilkins with the very well behaved Gormley.

Both Blue Ginger & The Fold have been included in the East region of h.art and there is a map detailing the galleries & makers involved.
Map3%20for%20local%20art%20trail%20on%20A4.doc

local%20art%20trail%20for%20h.Art%20East%20Herefordshire%202008%20A4.doc

More detailed information on the whole h.art event can be found at www.h-art.org.uk

H Art Preview Evening

2008-09-05T19:29:00.004+01:00

The studios at The Fold have been included

in this years H art week.
Hope to see you on the evening

or sometime during the rest of the 9 day event
Best wishes Sharon

Next show: Chilterns Craft Show

2008-08-16T11:28:00.003+01:00

22 - 25 August 2008

Stonor Park, Henley on Thames

9.30 - 17.30 Daily

Over 250 exhibiting craftsmen

Food marquee

Show Garden

Demonstrations & mini workshops

Free parking

Tickets available in advance or on the door

www.ichf.co.uk

Altered Book No.3 July & Aug 2008

2008-08-16T10:54:00.002+01:00

Just coming to the end of my pages for Book No.3 - I've done less pages this time as I've been busy with shows the past couple of months. The pages I have worked on are quite involved in this book as I spent time with fellow altered book artist Sue Brown in her fabulous Cheltenham studio which I always find very inspiring.

Some of the elements used on these pages are taken from a Lisa Larson ceramic tile which I love. I'm always on the look out for her pieces particularly the bird tiles and stripey cats!